Chapter 5

Old Saws and Fresh Cuts

In what ways, if any, do the study’s findings challenge the conventional wisdom?

That question, which Jim Collins posed to the Measures of Success Task Force, proved as intriguing as identifying the seven factors that distinguish remarkable associations from the rest of the pack.

To answer the question, we needed to identify what constituted conventional wisdom within the field of association management. First individually, then as a group, the task force compiled a list of widely held beliefs prevalent in the profession. Next we systematically compared the findings to conventional wisdom, acknowledging that it is far easier to disprove something than to prove it.

For example, consider this statement: “All apples ...

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